Electric igniter



WIMMER, JR., ET AL ELECTRIC IGNI'IER Filed Sept. 5, 1921 INVENTORS tric arc will be .forme Patented Sept. 7, 1926."

UNITED STATES 1 1,598,632 PATENT orrlca cam. wmmnn, .13., AND KARL scnnarraa, or WURTTEMBERG. GERMANY, AS-

SIGNORS TO THE FIRM wlMMER 8s (39., OF GIEGEN A. BRENZ, GERMANY. i

ELECTRIC IGNITER.

Application filed September 3, 1921, Serial No. 498,465, and in Germany May 3, 1920.

This invention relates to electric igniters,

by means of which even wood-staves of conduced between two electrodes of suitable material, such as carbon. This noveligniter has been specially desi ned so that the elecand maintained no matter whether the niter be handled by a trained orquntmineil operator. The novel igniter not only allows the electric arc to be formed at anymoment readily and with certaint-y, but also permits this are to be maintained for any length of time. By means of a simple device provided with a handle, the arc can be extinguished almost automatically.

In the drawings attached to this specification and forming part thereof, two modifications embodying my invention are illustrated diagrammatically by way of example. In the drawings Fig. 1 is afront elevation of the igniter with the cover removed.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line A-B in Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of a modifica tion.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section on line AB in Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 is a transverse section on'line ED in Fig. 4.

On a plate a made of slate or of some other insulating material are mounted two downwardly converging sleeves b and d. Inserted into these sleeves are the carbon electrodes 2' and k, which are shifted longitudinally within the sleeves by their own weight corresponding to their rate of consumption.

Sleeve 7) is fixed to the plate a by means of the screw 0, while the sleeve d is positioned in a slide R, which may be shifted within a double-cheeked guide f by means of the handle it against the tension of a spring g.

The approaching ends of the carbons i and k rest on a plate m consisting of insulating material, such as slate.

The guide f permits the carbon is to be shifted parallelly in a straight line along the supporting face of the plate m.

In vertical slots of the plate a, there is detachably arranged a sliding cover 0 which encloses the electrical devices. A circular electric arc.

opening n is provided in this cover in front of the points of the carbons i and k and just above the plate m.

A colored glass 1 is placed like a roof over this opening, in order to protect the eyes against the glare of the electric arc and, nevertheless, to afford a good view of the latter, I

The seriesresistance 9 required in the installation is arranged in vertical borings of the plate a, which cause the resistance 9 to be thoroughly cooled. j c

One of the current leads passes the current from the terminal 1', for instance by way of the spring g, the slide R and the sleeve d to the carbon is, the other lead a byway of the series resistance 9, over the screw 0 to the sleeve 1) and the carbon 2'.

If the igniter is to be used, the carbons'k and z are moved towards and into contact with one another by pressing the handle h against the tension of the spring 9. On the handle being released the spring 9 will force the slide R and the carbon is back until the slide abuts against the screw stop t, which is so adjusted that the are produced is of sufficient length but will not easily break. s

A piece of wood placed into the opening n may now readily be set on fire by the If the igniter is not to be used anymore, the arc is extinguished or handle is provided which need merely be,

depressed in order to automatically effect this operation.

The movable electrode is here disposed such a distance from the fixed electrode in its position of rest, that the gap between the electrode-points can still be bridged by the electric arc with the voltage supplied. A spring tends to draw the movable electrode away from the fixed electrode; the

the current may be switchedoff by means movable electrode must therefore be moved against the tension of the other spring in order that ignition take place.

If the arc has been formed, a spring catch projecting into the path of the slide arrests the mo *able electrode in a position where the arc will continue burning. In order to extinguish the arc, the spring catch is moved out of contact with the slide, ermitting the movable electrode to return to its position oi rest, whereby the distance between the two electrodes made to increase guide su'liicient-ly to extinguish the arc with absolute certainty.

Referring to Fig. I to (i, g is a s1 ring tending to force the slide B outwards so as to move the movable carbon 75 away from the fixed carbon 27.

A suitable shaped extension of the F. is formed with a catch w. On the slide being moved inwards a locking lever with. an insulated handle o engages the catch a; by the action of the weight 1 the lever oscillating the while around the pin a, and pre vents the spring 7 from moving the slide outwards. This locking action does not, however, prevent the electrode 7; from being moved farther inwards into contact with the electrode 2', as is shown in Fig. l in dotted-and-dash lines.

It now, with the electrodes i and Z; in contact with each other the handle 72 of slide R is released, the slide R and the electrode 7e are retained at a distance from the tixed electrode which is the most suitable ior producing and maintaining an arc.

litter use the handle a simply swung lack against the action oi a coil spring in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5, whereby the locking lever releases the catch 10. Now the slide It and electrode is will be forced outwards by spring 9' whereby he arc is extinguished with absolute certainty.

:0 is a slotted guide member for the look ing lever.

slide We wish it to be understood that we do not desire to be limited to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

\Ve claim:

1. Electric igniter comprising in combination, a pair of sleeve-shaped downwardly converging electrode holders, one being ca pablc oi rectilinear motion relatively to the other, an electrode in each holder capable ot' axial downward motion under its own weight, a fixed electrode support at the point where the converging electrodes meet and a handle for moving said movable holder against the action of a spring.

2. Electric igniter comprising in combination, a pair of SlQOYO-SlltlPMl downwardly converging electrode holders, one being capable oft rectilinear motion relatively to the other, an electrode in each holder capable of axial downward motion under its own weight, a tixed electrode support at the point where the converging electrodes meet, a handle for moving said movable holder against the action of a spring and a spring catch in the path ofsaid holder allowing it to be retained in operative position.

3. Electric igniter comprising in combi- ,ation, a pair of sleeve-shaped ownwardly converging electrode holders, one being capable ol' rectilinear motion relatively to the other, an electrode in each holder capable of axial downward motion under its own weight, a fixed electrode support at the point where the converging electrodes meet, a handle for moving said movable holder against the action of a spring allowing it to be retained in operative position and means for withdrawing said spring so as to release said movable holder.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

CARL WIMMER. KARL scnniirrnn, 

